30 must-have restaurant apps and platforms (the complete catalog)

You've probably heard of them. Tripadvisor, Uber or TheFork: apps have become part of restaurant owners' daily lives. But what are they really good for? Whether it's to improve your online visibility, attract more customers or make your daily life easier thanks to digital technology, there are dozens of apps and platforms designed to help you achieve your goals.

👉 Find our top 40 must-haves for a restaurant, divided into 3 categories: those that help you be found by your customers, those where to reference your restaurant and those that optimize the management of your establishment.

Why list your restaurant on apps and platforms?

Our expertise at Malou: helping restaurants with their digital communications. And for a simple reason: the digitalization of the sector is an opportunity to attract customers and increase your revenues.

👉 The first best practice we recommend to all our customers is to list your restaurant on platforms.

This makes it possible to :

1. Improve your local referencing . The principle is simple: the more your establishment is present in directories and platforms, the greater its online legitimacy . This sends positive signals to search engine algorithms: "my restaurant is present and recommended through several sources;
2. Expand your customer base. It makes sense: by listing your restaurant on as many platforms as possible, you multiply your potential points of contact, including with tourists and international customers;
3. Attract more customers. Thanks to the various functionalities offered by platforms ("reservation") and applications ("delivery"), you can diversify and extend the ways in which you consume at home. 

At Malou, we connect all our customers to over 60 platforms (old and new) to promote our customers. 

30 apps and platforms to attract more customers and boost your SEO

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Google My Business

Google My Business (now Google Business Profile) is the essential application for listing your restaurant online. It lets you manage your Google listing, the first contact between you and potential customers. You can add photos, respond to customer reviews and update information such as opening hours. Being well listed on Google My Business considerably increases your chances of appearing in local search results, particularly on Google Maps.

Why it's essential: today, 8 out of 10 people choose a restaurant online! With an optimized Google My Business (Google Business Profile) listing, your restaurant is more visible and attracts more potential customers.

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How do you create a restaurant listing? And above all, how do you optimize it to boost your restaurant to the top of search results? Answers in the Malou guide below!

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor is one of the most popular platforms for finding and booking restaurants. The application lets you manage your profile, publish photos and respond to customer reviews, while enjoying worldwide visibility, particularly among tourists.

Why it's essential: TripAdvisor is often the first resource for travelers looking for a good restaurant! Being listed on this platform is excellent for your local SEO, but also for attracting international customers.

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TheFork

Formerly known as LaFourchette, TheFork is the most widely used restaurant reservation application in Europe. It enables customers to reserve a table in just a few clicks, and offers restaurant owners management features such as access to a reservation calendar and the ability to offer exclusive promotions.

Why it's essential: TheFork not only helps you fill your tables, but also reaches an ultra-large audience who use the app to discover new restaurants. And when it comes to search engine optimization, it's a must!

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Yelp‍

Yelp is the benchmark application in the United States. Users can leave reviews, add photos and consult other customers' ratings.

Why it's essential: A good presence on Yelp greatly enhances your online e-reputation and increases the number of visitors to your restaurant. You also send positive signals to the Google algorithm, which perceives you as known in the United States.

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Facebook Business

Facebook isn't just a social network! The Facebook Business tool lets you create a professional page for your restaurant, interact with your customers, share menus, photos and events. It's also an excellent tool for targeted advertising.

Why it's essential: With millions of active users every day, Facebook is a direct communication channel with your potential customers.

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Foursquare

Foursquare is a social recommendation platform that enables users to discover restaurants through location-based recommendations. Users can leave reviews, photos and ratings for the establishments they visit.

Why it's essential: Foursquare is particularly popular with young, technophile users. Being present on this platform allows you to capture a connected audience, but above all, one that knows what they're doing, and can easily share personalized recommendations.

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Mapstr

Mapstr is an application (but also, a social network) that allows users to create and share personalized maps of their favorite restaurants. Users can follow other people's maps to discover their favorite selections of places.

Why it's essential: Mapstr is ideal for attracting customers looking for personalized recommendations. An active presence on the app also boosts your chances of being spotted by influencers.

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Resy

Resy is an online reservation platform for restaurants. It also offers customer relationship management tools and solutions for optimizing reservations.

Why it's essential: Widely used in major cities and for gourmet establishments, Resy is yet another way to get more bookings, while boosting your SEO.

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Apple Business Connect

Apple Business Connect enables restaurateurs to manage their presence on Apple Maps and iOS devices. This includes updating establishment information, managing reviews, and adding photos.

Why it's essential: Being well referenced on Apple Maps is crucial to attracting users of iPhone and other Apple products.

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Around Me

Around Me is an app that helps users find restaurants and other establishments near them. The app shows what's around the user, with information and reviews about each place.

Why it's essential: Hyper-popular with tourists and curious locals alike, Around Me increases your chances of attracting local and visiting customers.

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Snapchat

Did you know? Snapchat offers features for businesses, including restaurants, to connect with users via geofilters and ads. Users can also share their location when they visit your restaurant.

Why it's essential: Snapchat is particularly effective for targeting a young, connected audience, while attracting customers through innovative advertising campaigns.

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Uber Eats

Uber Eats is the benchmark meal delivery app! It enables restaurants to reach customers who prefer to order takeaway or have their food delivered to their home. The app also offers order management and real-time tracking tools.

Why it's essential: Delivery has become an essential service for increasing your revenues by diversifying your offer.

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Michelin Restaurant

The Michelin Guide is synonymous with culinary excellence. Being listed in the Michelin guide, whether in print or on their website, brings great credibility to your restaurant and can attract a discerning clientele in search of unique gastronomic experiences.

Why it's essential: Michelin recognition is a guarantee of quality that can raise your profile and attract international customers.

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Le Fooding

Le Fooding is a made-in-France gastronomic guide that focuses on modern, trendy restaurants.

Why it's essential: Being listed in Le Fooding is the ideal way to attract a clientele of food connoisseurs and influencers.

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Yellow Pages

Gone are the old-fashioned yellow paving stones! The Yellow Pages are still the reference for local searches.

Why it's essential: Listing your restaurant in the Yellow Pages is a huge boost for local SEO.

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L'Internaute

L'Internaute is a popular online portal in France, offering guides to the best restaurants. Being listed on L'Internaute helps you gain visibility, especially with a French audience looking for reliable reviews and recommendations.

Why it's essential: The Internet is often consulted by users looking for local recommendations. Once again, ideal for improving your ultra-local SEO.

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Le Petit Futé

Le Petit Futé is THE French tourist guide covering a wide variety of restaurants, from gourmet addresses to small local eateries.

Why it's essential: Le Petit Futé is very popular with travelers and locals alike, increasing your restaurant's visibility and online ranking.

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Time Out

Time Out is an urban guide to the best restaurants, bars and events in the world's major metropolises.

Why it's essential: Time Out is particularly influential in major metropolises, making it an excellent channel for attracting a foodie clientele and a means of improving your international SEO. ,

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Justacoté‍

As its name suggests, Justacoté is a French platform where users can recommend local restaurants. Establishments can be rated and commented on by customers.

Why it's essential: Justacoté is ideal for connecting with neighborhood customers, strengthening their presence and reputation in the community.

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Amazon Alexa

Amazon Alexa enables users to search for nearby restaurants via voice commands. By integrating your restaurant into this platform, you make your establishment accessible to users of connected devices that favor voice searches.

Why it's essential: With the rise of voice assistants, being listed on Amazon Alexa allows you to capture a new audience that uses voice search to find restaurants. This is known as "long tail" SEO (long phrases like"find a vegan brunch with a terrace nearby".

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Around Me

Around Me is an app that helps users find restaurants around them. The app shows what's around the user, with information and reviews about each place.

Why it's a must: Around Me is a popular app for users on the go who are looking for a quick place to eat. Being listed there increases your chances of attracting local and visiting customers.

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Yandex

Yandex is THE most widely used search engine in Russia. It offers a mapping and localization service similar to Google Maps. Being listed on Yandex can help attract Russian customers, especially tourists.

Why it's essential: If your restaurant attracts an international clientele, particularly from Russia, having a presence on Yandex is crucial to capturing this market. Once again, you're letting Google know that you're listed internationally!

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Navmii

Navmii is a navigation application that also includes points of interest, including restaurants. Being listed on Navmii allows users to discover your establishment when they're looking for places to eat en route.

Why it's essential: Navmii users are often on the move. Having a presence on this platform can help you attract visiting customers.

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Mapquest

Mapquest is an online mapping service offering information on restaurants and other points of interest. Users can search for restaurants and get directions to them.

Why it's essential: Being present on Mapquest complements Google Maps! It can help capture users who prefer this service to Google Maps.

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Nextdoor

Nextdoor is a neighborhood social network that allows residents to share local restaurant recommendations.

Why it's essential: Restaurateurs can sign up to interact directly with a local community and receive recommendations.

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TomTom

TomTom, famous for its GPS navigation systems, also offers information on points of interest, including restaurants. Being listed on TomTom can help users find your restaurant using their GPS devices.

Why it's essential: For local referencing, but also to attract GPS users.

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118000.fr

118000.fr is a French online directory well known for its advertising. Having a presence on this platform will improve your restaurant's visibility among users looking for local services.

Why it's essential: 118000.fr remains relevant for local searches. Being listed there can help attract customers who prefer local services.

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Opendi

Opendi is an online directory that lists local businesses in many sectors, including catering. Listing on Opendi enables you to reach a clientele who use the directory to find restaurants.

Why it's essential: Like most online directories, Opendi is a useful tool for improving your restaurant's online presence.

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Yalwa

Yalwa is an international network of online directories that lists local businesses in a wide range of sectors, including catering, professional services, retail, and many others. Founded in 2006, Yalwa is present in over 60 countries and enables businesses to create an online profile to increase their visibility. Users can search for businesses by category or location, making it easy to find nearby establishments.

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Why it's essential: By being listed on Yalwa, your restaurant can increase its visibility in over 60 countries.

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Dianping

Dianping is one of China's largest online recommendation and reservation platforms. Often described as "China's Yelp", it enables users to search for restaurants, read reviews and book tables. As a restaurateur, being listed on Dianping enables you to reach a vast Chinese audience, both residents and tourists.

Why it's essential: If you're attracting a Chinese clientele or are located in a tourist town, having a presence on Dianping is a must!

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Mango Plate

Mango Plate is South Korea's leading restaurant search application. It offers restaurant reviews, recommendations based on user preferences, and geolocation features to find nearby establishments.

Why it's essential: For restaurateurs looking to attract Korean customers, or who are located in areas frequented by South Korean tourists, having a presence on Mango Plate is an excellent way of improving your visibility.

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Malou

Malou is THE digital solution that helps restaurant owners improve their local referencing, manage their social media and optimize their e-reputation. The MalouApp application automates many of the tasks involved in managing an online presence, while providing tools for analyzing and improving your restaurant's digital performance.

Why it's essential: To save time, customers and money!

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